Civilizing mission

By chapter two of Heart of Darkness, it is clear for the reader of Joseph Conrad's work here that the civilizing mission is completely bogus.

The difference between what Marlo describes Europeans doing in Africa versus what Europeans are actually doing in Africa as Marlo goes deeper into the heart of the Congo, that difference is total.

Marlow is not witnessing the spread of religion.

And these guys are just in it for the profit.

They want as much ivory as possible, and they're going to do whatever they can to get to that point.

Historian Edward Said, famous historian Edward Said, makes the point in his essay, Two Visions in Heart of Darkness, that this discrepancy between what the civilizing mission was supposed to be in Africa versus what is actually happening in Heart of Darkness is is disorienting for the reader.

And it creates a unsettling feeling as you read Heart of Darkness because you're put in the imperial mindset, which is what Marlowe is a product of.

He's a European working for a concession company going to Africa to gain profit.